System and method to facilitate configuration of a controlling device

Abstract

A system and method wherein geographic data is used to configure a controlling device to control operations of a target device and/or to configure the controlling device to control tuning operations of a target device. The system additionally provides for the harmonization of controlling device configurations made on the controlling device and/or a remote computer.

1 . A computer-implemented method for making a selection for a channel control system through a computing device, the method comprising:
 receiving configuration information, the configuration information including model information associated with the channel control system;   receiving, from the computing device, a request for an infrared code to perform a television function on the configured channel control system;   determining an internet protocol (“IP”) address associated with the computing device;   receiving a location identifier associated with the IP address;   receiving a television service provider identifier associated with the location identifier;   receiving a television function identifier based on the television service provider identifier;   selecting the infrared code including instructions to perform the television function on the channel control system; and   transmitting the infrared code to the computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented of  claim 1 , wherein the television service provider identifier is the identity of a service provider operating at a location associated with the location identifier. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the infrared code is selected based on the configuration information and the television function identifier. 
     
     
         4 . A computer-implemented method for making a selection for a channel control system through a computing device comprising:
 receiving a request for an infrared code to perform a television function on the channel control system;   determining an internet protocol (“IP”) address associated with the computing device;   receiving a location identifier associated with the IP address;   receiving a television service provider identifier based on the location identifier;   receiving a television function identifier;   selecting the infrared code including instructions to perform the television function on the channel control system; and   transmitting the infrared code.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: receiving configuration information, the configuration information including information associated with the channel control system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the channel control system is configured on at least one of a television, a set-top box, and a digital video recorder. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the television function comprises selecting a television channel for the channel control system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the television channel includes digitally-distributed television channels obtained through online streaming. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the television function identifier is based on the television service provider identifier. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the television service provider identifier is selected from a set of television service provider identifiers based on an association of the television service provider identifier with a television service provider operating at the location associated with the location identifier. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein receiving a television function identifier further comprises: transmitting a television service provider identifier; receiving electronic program guide information associated with the television service provider identifier; and wherein the television function identifier is based on the electronic program guide information. 
     
     
         12 . A system for making a selection for a channel control system through a computing device, the system comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable modules including:   a configuration module, the configuration module configured to receive configuration information including model information associated with the channel control system;   a location module, the location module configured to determine a location identifier for the computing device in response to receiving a request from the computing device for an infrared code to perform a television function on the channel control system;   a service provider module, the service provider module configured to determine a television service provider identifier based on the location identifier;   a program guide module, the program guide module configured to determine a television function identifier based on the television service provider identifier; and   an IR code module, the IR code module configured to select the infrared code based on the television function identifier, the infrared code configured to perform the television function on the channel control system; and   a processor for executing the modules.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the infrared code is specific to the channel control system associated with the configuration information. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the location identifier is determined based on an internet protocol address associated with the computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the service provider module determines the television service provider identifier from a set of television service provider identifiers based on an association of the television service provider identifier with a television service provider operating at the location associated with the location identifier. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the program guide module determines the television function identifier based on electronic program guide information associated with the television service provider identifier. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer program product further comprising executable instructions, the instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to:
 receive a request for an infrared code from a computing device associated with a channel control system, the request to perform a television function on the channel control system through the computing device;   determine an internet protocol (“IP”) address associated with the computing device;   receive a location identifier associated with the IP address;   receive a television service provider identifier based on the location identifier;   receive a television function identifier;   select the infrared code including instructions to perform the television function on the channel control system; and   transmit the infrared code.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , further comprising instructions that cause the processor to: receive configuration information, the configuration information including model information for the channel control system. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the television function comprises selecting a television channel for the channel control system. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the television channel includes digitally-distributed television channels obtained through online streaming. 
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the channel control system is configured on at least one of a television, a set-top box, and a digital video recorder. 
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the television function identifier is based on the television service provider identifier. 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the television service provider identifier is selected from a set of television service provider identifiers based on an association of the television service provider identifier with a television service provider operating at the location associated with the location identifier. 
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , further comprising instructions that cause the processor to: transmit a television service provider identifier; receive electronic program guide information based on the television service provider identifier; and wherein the television function identifier is based on the electronic program guide information. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the infrared code is selected based on the configuration information and the television function identifier. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the infrared code is further selected based on the configuration information associated with the channel control system. 
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the infrared code is selected based on the configuration information and the television function identifier. 
     
     
         28 . A computer-implemented method for making a selection for a channel control system through a computing device comprising:
 receiving a request for a transmission code to perform a television function on the channel control system;   determining an internet protocol (“IP”) address associated with the computing device;   receiving a location identifier associated with the IP address;   receiving a television service provider identifier based on the location identifier;   receiving a television function identifier;   selecting the transmission code including instructions to perform the television function on the channel control system; and   transmitting the transmission code.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the transmission code comprises a radio frequency (RF) protocol transmission code. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the transmission code comprises a point-to-point protocol transmission code. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the transmission code comprises a network protocol transmission code. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising: receiving configuration information, the configuration information including information associated with the channel control system. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the channel control system is configured on at least one of a television, a set-top box, and a digital video recorder. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the television function comprises selecting a television channel for the channel control system. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the television channel includes digitally-distributed television channels obtained through online streaming. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the television function identifier is based on the television service provider identifier. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the television service provider identifier is selected from a set of television service provider identifiers based on an association of the television service provider identifier with a television service provider operating at the location associated with the location identifier. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein receiving a television function identifier further comprises: transmitting a television service provider identifier; receiving electronic program guide information associated with the television service provider identifier; and wherein the television function identifier is based on the electronic program guide information.